Variable and reversible rotary fluid power coupling



May 9, 1950 F. D. BUTLER VARIABLE AND REVERSIBLE ROTARY FLUID POWER COUPLING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 12. 1946 IMay 9, 1950 2,506,576

F. D. BUTLER VARIABLE AND REVERSIBLE ROTARY FLUID POWER COUPLING Y, Filed March 12, 1946 2-SheetsSheet 2 mi@ m15 mm 15 1m@ 4 X l l\ a 45 24- v mgllllllll"` 1 *Y 4s E 15 .Y *Y l j .Y

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31 19 A I 15 B/MQMM latenteci lVay VARIABLE AND REVERSIBLE ROTARY FLUID POWER COUPLING Frank Davia Butler, United states Navy Application March 12, 1946, serial' No. 653,915

(c1. eso-54) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

8 Claims.

amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) Y My invention relates generally to fluid power coupling and specically to a variable and reversible fluid coupling for use with power plants,

-automobiles or the like.

, The principal object of my invention is to provide a fluid coupling having a means for reversing the direction of the driven or runner member.

Another object of my invention is to provide a fluid coupling having a neutral position of operation.

1 A further object of my invention is to provide a fluid coupling with a means of adjusting the speed of rotation of the driven member or runner from zero to maximum.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent by reference to the accompanying drawings which are intended as illustrative thereof and not limitations thereon, in

which: l

Figure 1 is an end-view in cross-section taken on two planes through the coupling, as indicated by the line I-I in Figure 2. y

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional View ofthe coupling taken along the axis of theY driver and runner shafts, on the line 2`2 in Figure 1, with por- I tions of those shafts in side elevation. y Y Figures 3, 4 and 5are end-views inlsection of the impeller, intermediate variable, runner and fixed guide vanes ofthe coupling. y n Y Figures 6, 7 and 8 are'end-views of the miter and ring gearing used to rotate the intermediate variable vanes.

Referring in more particular `to Figures 1 and 2, Figure 1 is a view in cross-section taken on line I-I of Figure 2. In Figure 2, impeller member I is secured to drive shaft 2 which rotates in bearing I when driven by an external source of power not here shown. The Vhub 3 of the impeller I has radially extending curved and tapered blades 4, having an inclined4 edge, and attached thereon and enclosed by annular band 5 at their outer ends. The driven member or runner 6 is secured to driven shaft 'I rotatable in bearing 21 with suitable oil seals 43. Hub 8 of the runner 6 has blades 9, having inclined edges, and attached thereon and enclosed byannular band IIJ at their outer ends. .y l

The intermediate vane assembly 'II is positioned between impeller I and runner 6; and another vane assembly I2 is positioned between runner 6 and an annular ring of radially extending guide vanes I4 attached to or fabricated as a part of the housing I3.. Another set of guide vanes I5 is positioned in the *otherV end of the musing. I3 and .Similarly rlslluted` The. inter.-

mediate variable vanes I6, in each of assemblies Il and I2, are journaled or pivoted at the inner ends with short shaft portions I'I in recesses 25 in each of two annular rings 23 and 24. Ring 23, supporting assembly I I, is a press t or otherwise secured over the bearing 26 which is mounted, on shaft l, and ring 24 supporting assembly vI2 is mounted on shell 28 in which the thrust and support bearing 2l is secured.

An annular ring member 29 is composed of three rings with split recesses 30 to hold the shaft portions I8 of the intermediate vanes I6 and is secured together by bolts 3l. Each vane i6 has secured at its outer end a partially milled miter gear I9 in engagement with a double-faced master miter gear 32 on the outer periphery of which is milled a ring gear in mesh with worm gear 34 mounted on shaft 35. Shaft 35 is journaled in bearings 36 and 31 with a suitable stuffing box 38 in the side of the housing I3 permitting rotation of the shaft from remote means not here illustrated through iiexible joint 39.

In Figures 6, 7 and 8 the ends of the miter gears lll in engagement with the main master miter, gear 32 are shown in positions of forward, neutral and reverse, respectively, with the unmilled portions of the miter gears I9 forming stops in theA rotation of the gearing. This prohibits turning the intermediate vanes I6 beyond a prescribed degree of rotation. r A suitable number of the vanes I6 have short shafts 20 extending out beyond the gears I9 into recesses 2u having resilient material 2| and in this way the intermediate assemblies Ii and I2y are fixed in position and supported.

A bearing 40 on driven shaft 'I extends into bearing 4I in the end of the driving shaft 2 and serves to align the shafts. The housing I3 is constructed in a conventional manner of two halves secured by rabbet joint 42 and conven` tional bolt means.

Referring to Figures 3, 4 and 5, irnpeller I with. annular ring 5 enclosing the ends of the tapered and curved blades 4 is shown as rotating in the direction of the horizontal arrows while the fluid ow is indicated by the arrows shown betweenvv the vanes l5. Intermediate vane I6 isv constructed of two wing iins 45 and a central. iin 44 fastened together with pin 46 and rotatable within limits to positions of forward, neutral and reverse as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 respectively. It will readily be seen that the inclined edges of the intermediate vanes I6 match the inclination of the adjacent edges of the blades 4'.'

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,162,543 Banner June 13, 1939 2,205,794 J andasek June 25, 1940 2,292,384 Lysholm Aug. 11, 1942 2,327,647 Jandasek Aug. 24, 1943 2,389,174 Whitworth s Nov. 20, 1945 

